CharLimits

Email Subject Line Character Counter

There is no hard limit on an email subject line, which is exactly the problem. Gmail on iOS cuts somewhere near 35 characters, desktop clients stretch closer to 60, and everything after that is invisible.

Write for the shortest window your audience actually uses, then check your preheader against the limits below.

Last reviewed: September 7, 2026

Counted against the Email subject Subject line limit.

Counted as grapheme clusters
Subject line 0 / 60

60 characters remaining

Desktop clients show roughly this much before truncating.

  • 0Characters
  • 0No spaces
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  • 0Sentences
  • 0Lines
  • 0Bytes (UTF-8)
  • 0sRead time
  • 0sSpeak time
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        Email subject character limits

        Character limits for each Email subject field
        FieldLimitNotes
        Subject line 60 Desktop clients show roughly this much before truncating.
        Mobile (Gmail iOS) 35 The narrowest common window - write for this one.
        Preheader text 100 Roughly 40 to 100 characters depending on the client.
        Sender name 30 Displayed before the subject in most inboxes.

        Tips for writing Email subject copy

        • Front-load the subject: the first 35 characters decide the open.
        • Never let the preheader repeat the subject - it wastes the second impression.
        • Test on a phone before sending; desktop previews lie about length.
        • Avoid spam trigger words early in the line, not just anywhere in it.

        Email subject character limit FAQ

        How many characters should an email subject line be?

        Aim for about 60 characters for desktop, but write for roughly 35 characters if most of your audience opens email on a phone, since that is where Gmail on iOS truncates.

        What is preheader text?

        Preheader text is the short summary shown after the subject line in most inboxes. It is usually around 40 to 100 characters and should add information rather than repeat the subject.

        Is there a hard character limit for email subject lines?

        No hard limit applies, but every inbox truncates by pixel width. Practical limits land near 60 characters on desktop and 35 on mobile.

        Do emoji in subject lines count as one character?

        Emoji count toward the character total, and some clients render them inconsistently, so they are a risk in both length and display.